USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 50
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833
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
ry six miles, which, crossing the ranges at right angles, cut the whole into blocks six miles are, called townships. These are numbered by tiers going north from the base line, as Town- ps 1 north, Townships 2 north, and so on. As the present territory of Rock County extends nty-four miles north of the base line, it includes, of course, four tiers of townships, num- ed 1, 2, 3 and 4 north. Hence, in speaking of the territory of Rock County as surveyed the General Government, it is said to be in Townships 1, 2, 3 and 4 north, of Ranges 10, 11, .13 and 14 east. The history of the surveys made in what is now Rock County is as fol- 8 :
DESIGNATED SURVEYS. - By Whom Made.
Under Authority of Surveyor General.
Date of Contract.
When Surveyed.
'NSHIP 1 N., RANGE 10 E. : '
'est Township Boundary ...... , Mullett & Brink.
M. T. Williams. ..... October 10, 1831.
2d quarter, 1832.
ast Township Boundary ....... Mullett & Brink M. T. Williams.
July 9, 1833.
4th quarter, 1883.
orth Township Boundary.
.. Mullett & Brink ... M. T. Williams
July 9, 1833.
4th quarter, 1838.
outh Township Boundary
.. Lucius Lyon.
M. T. Williams
None ...
1832 and 1838.
abdivisions West of River ..
. George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
February 18, 1832 ... 1st quarter, 1838. November 18, 1833 .. , 1st quarter, 1834.
NSHIP 1 N., RANGE 11 E. :
ownship Lines, N. E. and W. Mullett & Brink ..... M. T. Williams ..
July 9, 1883 .. 3d quarter, 1838.
ubdivisions.
George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams .. November 18, 1833 ... 4th quarter, 1838.
Lucius Lyon .M. T. Williams
None .. lst quarter, 1838.
'NSHIP 1 N., RANGE 12 E. : ubdivisions West of River .... George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
November 18, 1838 ... '1st quarter, 1834.
own Lines W. and N. of River Mullett & Brink ...... M. T. Williams.
July 9, 1833. 3d quarter, 1833.
outh Boundary
Lucius Lyon ...
M. T. Williams.
None .... .. 1st quarter, 1883.
ownship Lines East of River. Mullett & Brink Robert T. Lytle.
August 17, 1835. 4th quarter, 1836.
uhdivisions E. of River ..... Orson Lyon Robert T. Lytle. January 7, 1836 1st quarter, 1836.
'NSHIP 1 N., RANGE 13 E. :
ownship Lines N. E. and W .. Mullett & Brink
Robert T. Lytle.
August 17, 1885. 4th quarter, 1835.
Orson Lyon
Robert T. Lytle.
January 7, 1836. 2d quarter, 1836.
Lucius Lyon .. Robert T. Lytle ..
INone. 3d quarter, 1833.
INSHIP 1 N., RANGE 14 E. : | ownship Lines N. E. and W .. Mullett & Brink
Robert T. Lytle.
August 17, 1835. 4th quarter, 1835.
abdivisions.
Orson Lyon.
Robert T. Lytle.
January 7, 1836. 2d quarter, 1836.
outh Boundary
Lucius Lyon
Robert T. Lytle.
None. 3d quarter, 1833.
'NSHIP 2 N., RANGE 10 E. :
ownship Lines N. E. and W .. Mullett & Brink.
M. T. Williams.
July 9, 1833. 3d quarter, 1833.
ubdivisions.
George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
November 18, 1833 ... 3d quarter, 1838.
'NSHIP 2 N., RANGE 11 E. : ownship Lines N. E. and W .. Mullett & Brink .....
M. T. Williams ..
July 9, 1833. 3d quarter, 1888.
ubdivisions.
George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
November 18, 1833 ... '4th quarter, 1883.
'NSHIP 2 N., RANGE 12 E. :
ubdivisions West of River .... George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams .. November 18, 1833 ... 1st quarter, 1834.
ownship Lines West of River Mullett & Brink. M. T. Williams ..
July 9, 1833. 3d quarter, 1833.
ownship Lines East of River Mullett & Brink Robert T. Lytle.
August 17, 1835 ... . 4th quarter, 1835.
ubdivisions East of River ..... Orson Lyon
Robert T. Lytle. January 7, 1836. '1st quarter, 1836.
'NSHIP 2 N., RANGE 13 E. : ownship Lines.
Mullett & Brink Robert T. Lytle.
August 17, 1835. 4th quarter, 1835.
abdivisions.
Orson Lyon
Robert T. Lytle.
January 7, 1836. . 3d quarter, 1836.
'NSHIP 2 N., RANGE 14 E. : ownship Lines.
Mullett & Brink
Robert T. Lytle.
August 17, 1835. 4th quarter, 1835.
ibdivisions ..
Orson Lyon Robert T. Lytle.
January 7, 1836. .. 13d quarter, 1836.
'NSHIP 3 N., RANGE 10 E. : ownship Lines.
Mullett & Brink M. T. Williams.
July 9, 1833. '3d quarter, 1833.
abdivisions.
George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
November 18, 1833 ... 4th quarter, 1833.
'NSHIP 3 N., RANGE 11 E. : abdivisions.
George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams .. November 18, 1833 ... 4th quarter, 1838. July 9, 1833 ... 3d quarter, 1833. ownship Lines. Mullett & Brink ...... M. T. Williams.
'NSHIP 3 N., RANGE 12 E :
ubdivisions West of River .... George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams. November 18, 1833 ... 4th quarter, 1833.
ownship Lines West of River Mullett & Brink ...... M. T. Williams.
July 9, 1833. .. 3d quarter, 1833.
ownship Lines East of River Mullett & Brink ...... Robert T. Lytle. ¡August 17, 1835. .. Ist quarter, 1836.
ubdivisions East of River ..... Orson Lyon ........ Robert T. Lytle .. January 7, 1836 ... . 2 d q
ubdivisions East of River ..... George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
outh Boundary
abdivisions.
outh Boundary.
334
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
DESIGNATED SURVEYS.
By Whom Made.
Under Authority of Surveyor General.
Date of Contract.
When Surveyed.
TOWNSHIP 3 N., RANGE 13 E. : Township Lines ..
Mullett & Brink.
Robert T. Lytle.
August 17. 1835.
4th quarter, 1886.
Subdivisions.
Orson Lyon
Robert T. Lytle.
January 7. 1836.
[2d quarter, 1886.
TOWNSHIP 3 N., RANGE 14 E. : Township Lines.
Mullett & Brink
Robert T. Lytle ..
August 17, 1835.
4th quarter, 1835.
Subdivisions.
Orson Lyon.
Robert T. Lytle.
January 7, 1836.
2d quarter, 1886.
TOWNSHIP 4 N., RANGE 10 E. : Township Lines. Subdivisions.
Mullett & Brink
M. T. Williams
July 9, 1833.
¡4th quarter, 1833.
Lorin Miller
M. T. Williams
November 18, 1838 ... 4th quarter, 1833.
TOWNSHIP 4 N., RANGE 11 E. : Township Lines Subdivisions.
Mullett & Brink
M. T. Williams
July 9, 1833 ..
3d quarter, 1883.
George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
November 18, 1883 ... 4th quarter 1833.
TOWNSHIP 4 N., RANGE 12 E. :
Township Lines West of River Mullett & Brink . M. T. Williams.
July 9, 1883.
3d quarter, 1838.
Township Lines East of River Mullett & Brink
!Robert T. Lytle
August 17, 1835.
4th quarter, 1885.
Subdivisions East of River ..
Hiram Burnham Robert T. Lytle. December 26, 1835 ... 3d quarter, 1886.
Subdivisions West of River ....
George W. Harrison ... M .. T. Williams.
November 18, 1833 ...
1st quarter, 1834.
TOWNSHIP 4 N., RANGE 13 E. :
Subdivisions West of Lake ..... George W. Harrison .. M. T. Williams.
November 18, 1833 ... 1st quarter, 1884.
Township Lines West of Lake .. Mullett & Brink .iM. T. Williams.
July 9, 1838.
.. 8d quarter, 1888.
Township Lines East of Lake .. Mullett & Brink Robert T. Lytle.
August 17, 1835.
4th quarter, 1885.
Subdivisions East of Lake .... Hiram Burnham. Robert T. Lytle.
December 26, 1835 ... 3d quarter, 1886.
TOWNSHIP 4 N., RANGE 14 E. : Township Lines
Mullett & Brink.
. Robert T. Lytle ..
.August 17. 1835.
4th quarter, 1885.
Subdivisions
Hiram Burnham Robert T Lytle
iDecember 26. 1835 ... /2d quarter. 1836.
By the end of 1833, a large amount of the public land had been surveyed, and the fact being duly reported by the Surveyor General, Congress, by an act approved June 26, 1834, created two land districts. They embraced all that tract north of the State of Illinois, west of Lake Michigan, south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, included in the then Territory of Michigan. It was divided by a north and south line, drawn from the northern boundary of Illinois, between Ranges 8 and 9, to the Wisconsin River. All east of that line was called the Green Bay Land District ; all west, the Wisconsin Land District. Within the first-mentioned district was included the whole of the present county of Rock. A Land Office for this Eastern District was established at Green Bay, which was duly opened by the Govern- ment, and a notice given of a public sale of all the then surveyed public lands lying south and southeast of the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, which notice placed in the market all that portion of what was afterward Rock County, lying west of Rock River and Lake Koshkonong. In accordance with this announcement, a sale took place at Green Bay in 1835.
By act of Congress of June 15, 1836, the Milwaukee Land District was erected out of the southern portion of the Green Bay District, including all the land between Range 8 east and Lake Michigan, bounded on the south by the Illinois State line. and extending north so as to extend to and include the tier of townships numbered 10 north ; also, Townships 11 and 12 north, of Ranges 21 and 22 east. Of course, in this district fell all the territory now included within the limits of Rock County. The Land Office was located at Milwaukee, where the first public sale of Government lands within the new district was held in the spring of 1839. This brought into market all of what is now Rock County that had not previously been disposed of, and, for the first time, that part lying east of Rock River and Lake Koshkonong.
FIRST SETTLEMENT IN ROCK COUNTY.
To obtain exact and reliable information concerning events which have occurred within a comparatively recent period, while many of those are yet living whose individual efforts and achievements form the subject of the inquiry, would appear to be a task presenting but few difficulties. But busy men, whose thoughts and energies have been devoted mainly, if not exclusively, to the securing of homes and fortunes in a new country, naturally have little time to record the incidents and events which made up the history of their daily lives ; nor are they
335
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
inclined to regard them as other than trivial and unimportant, and therefore too insignificant to be perpetuated. From this disposition to regard most occurrences as trifling in themselves, combined with want of leisure or inclination to keep a daily record of what they thought, felt. hoped, did or suffered, it follows that the record of early settlements contains but scant material from which to obtain facts for the pages of history. Patient industry and careful research, how- ever, rarely fail to discover forgotten letters and old books of account, or to refresh the memories of early settlers regarding the events of long ago, which, being compared, weighed and sifted, supply the laborious searcher for truth with the information necessary for his purpose. The difficulties encountered in preparing a history of any particular county are precisely of the character just indicated, and they are surmounted only by patient and persistent research and investigation.
The close of the Black Hawk war and the return home of the soldiers by whose fortitude and gallantry the Sac chief had been defeated and his band dispersed, called the attention of the country to the extraordinary natural advantages of the Rock River Valley. Next to the narration of the exploits of himself and comrades in the field, the returned volunteer found his greatest delight in glowing accounts of the beautiful, flower-decked prairies, rich with nutritious grasses from three to six feet in height, and dotted at intervals with burr-oak openings, and of the swift and sparkling streams, winding like silver threads between their verdure-clad banks. According to these accounts, the Rock River country was a veritable modern Eden. Such enthusiasm naturally communicated itself to those who listened to the narrations, many of whom made up their minds to dispose of their then possessions as speedily as possible, and secure for themselves a home in this region, which was, seemingly, awaiting the occupation of the indus- trious and the enterprising. On the 14th of July, 1835, John Inman, of Lucerne County, Penn- sylvania, and William Holmes, of Ohio, started from Milwaukee " to spy out the land " in this much-vaunted valley. Procuring a couple of Indian ponies upon which to pack their provis- ions, and armed with the trusty rifle. without which no one in the Northwest traveled in those days, they set out upon their explorations. Two days' march from Milwaukee brought them to Fort Atkinson, then just evacuated by the officer for whom it was named and his com- mand, where they went into camp for the night. The next day they traveled west and south, and camped at night at the mouth of the Yahara (Catfish) River. When morning came, they found that their ponies had taken French leave, and that they must either pack their own trape, or leave them behind. This was an inconvenience, to be sure, but not a disaster to hardy pioneers ; so they shouldered their luggage and continued their explorations, following the course of the river southward till they reached the point now occupied by the city of Janesville, where they camped on the point of the bluff on the Racine road. From this point they saw Rock Prairie stretching away in the distance to the east and south, till the verdant plain mingled with the blue of the horizon. They saw before them an ocean of waving grass and blooming flowers. and realized the idea of having found the real Canaan-the real paradise of the world. Continuing their journey to the eastward, they came within half a mile of a beauti- ful grove, in which they found unmistakable indications of its having been occupied not long before as an Indian encampment, to which they gave the name of Black Hawk Grove, which it still bears. Shortly after this, they discovered their ponies, and, having secured them, set out upon their return to Milwaukee, entirely satisfied with their investigations, and fully determined to make this magnificent and fertile prairie their future home. They reached Milwaukee on the 23d of July, having been absent ten days. In all their travels, they had found but one white family-that of Mr. McMillan, who resided where Waukesha now stands.
"On the 15th day of November, 1835, John Inman, Thomas Holmes, William Holmes, Joshua Holmes, Milo Jones and George Follmer started from Milwaukee with an ox team and wagon, the latter containing provisions, tools and other necessaries, and, on the 18th day of the same month, arrived opposite the ' big rock.'" The biting frosts of winter were at hand; no time was to be lost. The banks of the river on either side were lined with oaks, maples and ash. There was no scarcity of building material. The woodman's ax soon resounded from the forest, and within a week a log house graced the hillside. This was the first settlement in Rock County.
336
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY - EARLY SETTLEMENTS - PIONEER REMINISCENCES - PIONEER LIFE - - "SQUATTERS" AND THEIR "CLAIMS"-ROCK COUNTY ORGANIZED.
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.
Rock County is bounded on the north by the counties of Dane and Jefferson ; east, by Walworth County ; south, by the State of Illinois; and west, by the county of Green. Its eastern boundary is about fifty miles west of Lake Michigan ; its western boundary, about sev- enty miles east of the Mississippi. It covers an area of about seven hundred and twenty square miles. This territory, with all the Northwest, was claimed by France from 1671 to 1763, when it was surrendered to the British. By the " Quebec Act" of 1774, the whole was placed under the local administration of Canada. It was, however, practically put under a despotic military rule, and so continued until possession passed to the United States. Before the last-mentioned event, and during and after the Revolution, the conflicting ciaims of Virginia, New York, Massachu- setts and Connecticut to portions of the country were relinquished to the General Government. All these claims were based upon chartered rights, and Virginia added to hers the right of con- quest of the " Illinois country " during the Revolution. As early as October, 1778, she declared, by an act of her General Assembly, that all the citizens of that commonwealth who were then settled, or should thereafter settle, on the western side of the Ohio, should be included in a dis- tinct county, which should be called Illinois. No Virginians were then settled as far north as what is now Wisconsin ; and, as none thereafter located so far north before she relinquished all her rights to the United States, it follows that no part of our State was included in Illinois County, and that she never exercised any jurisdiction over any portion of Wisconsin ; nor did she make claim to any portion of it by right of conquest.
Notwithstanding the passage of the ordinance of 1787, establishing a government over the ter- ritory northwest of the Ohio River, which territory was acquired by the treaty of 1783 from Great Britain, possession only was obtained by the United States of the southern portion, the northern part being held by the British Government until 1796. Arthur St. Clair, in February, 1790, exer- cising the functions of Governor, and having previously organized a government for the country under the ordinance above mentioned, established, in what is now the State of Illinois, a county which was named St. Clair. But, as this county only extended north "to the mouth of the Little Mackinaw Creek on the Illinois," it did not include, of course, any part of the present Wisconsin. although being the nearest approach thereto of any organized county up to that date.
The next and much nearer approach to Rock County was by the organization of Wayne County in 1796. which was made to include, beside much other territory, all of the present State watered by streams flowing into Lake Michigan. Still, no part of Rock River Valley had as yet come into any county organization. However, from 1800 to 1809, what are now the limits of Rock County were within the Territory of Indiana, and in the last-mentioned year passed into the Territory of Illinois. It is probable that Indiana Territory exercised juris- diction over what is now Wisconsin to the extent of appointing two Justices of the Peace-one for Green Bay and one for Prairie du Chien. In the year 1809, the Illinois Territorial Government commissioned three Justices of the Peace and two militia officers at Prairie du Chien, St. Clair County having previously been extended so as to include that point and, probably, Green Bay. In the course of time, other Illinois counties subsequently had jurisdic- tion, until in 1818, what is now Wisconsin became a portion of the Territory of Michigan. Under the government of the latter, the district of country now forming Rock County was first
337
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
icluded within the limits of the county of Brown, afterward Milwaukee, and so continued til it became itself a county, constituted by name and boundary.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
A little over a month after the arrival of John Inman and his company upon Rock River, here they began the first settlement in Rock County, there arrived out, Samuel St. John and S wife-the last mentioned the first white woman settler of the county. On the 15th of January, 336, Dr. James Heath and wife joined the little colony. All wintered in the log cabin ogether. Settlements soon followed in other parts of the county. Particular accounts of these will hereafter be given ; for the present, the reader's attention will be invited to personal narra- tives of pioneers and others, to be followed by a description of pioneer life as it stands revealed upon the pages of history.
PIONEER REMINISCENCES. I-ANONYMOUS, ROCK PRAIRIE, 1845.
We have hardly seen a flake from that snowstorm which you have (according to the papers) luxuriated on in the way of sleigh-riding. I have rode three hours in a sleigh. The conse- quence was, a stop of three hours to mend and a haul of ten miles on the bare ground. This is a southern county, on Rock River, about midway east and west between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River.
The high reputation which the Rock River country enjoys has brought many here, who have now well-built houses and highly cultivated farms. I think the soil on Rock Prairie is not sur- passed by any in the Territory. The prairie [Rock ], with its windings, is not far from twenty miles long and from two to fifteen miles wide, and the wheat raised on it is immense. I am told they consider that 100 acres under cultivation is but moderate. Many farmers have not threshed their wheat, and on every side you may see stacks in clusters, numbering as high as twenty. A large portion of the tillers of the soil have already reached that desired condition of which Gov. Tallmadge speaks, " honorable independence."
The country is adapted to the various branches of farming; but, as much is said at random on the productiveness of capital invested in agriculture, I will give a few items in figures, which may be relied upon.
A gentleman here bought eighty acres of prairie and raised from it a crop of wheat, hiring all the work done. Here are the items of expense and the value of the crop :
Eighty acres of land, at $1.25.
$100 00
Fencing.
230 00
Breaking .. 160 00
Seed for sowing. 75 00
Sowing. 8 00
Harrowing
90 00
Harvesting
150 00
Total expense .. $813 00
The eighty acres produced twenty-six bushels per acre-2,080 bushels; deduct one-tenth for
threshing, leaves 1,872 bushels, at 45 cents per bushel. 842 40
Clear gain. $ 29 40
The land is now plowed, fenced and paid for, and more than half New England percentage received on the investment.
This may look very fair; it is not unfair reckoning if Providence sends a good seed-time and harvest. The yield per acre is not above the average, and I am informed the price is only medium.
The settlers are apparently well contented on this and other garden-like prairies. You may call this one side-" the boy said he would like to slide down hill if there was no draw- back to it." I will give the worst of the other side by informing you that for timber here, in
-
838
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
good locations, they pay from $3 to $20 per acre, and. in addition, that all parts of the country are not well watered. From forty to one hundred and twenty feet is the distance which is dug in some places for a living spring.
With these impressions, I may tell you of a large trade that is now going on in the way of transportation from the southern to the northern country. Thousands of emigrants who arrived the last season have to purchase all they consume. Many sage remarks are made on the appe- tites of the initiating " Badgers ;" and I am a witness that if men are divided into two classes- those who labor for an appetite and those who strive to satisfy one, the latter class are here most strongly represented by thousands of hungry men, making their first winter's stay. There is yet too little capital invested by the agriculturists to supply the demands of the emigrants. Fifty miles north of this, potatoes are from 37 to 50 cents per bushel, and I have paid as high as 75 cents for a bushel of oats.
It is a matter of remark that a great proportion of the settlers in this region are from the Eastern States ; and as the new-comers seek for Government lands, they push across the river, where they find good advantages but an inferior soil. It would be difficult to enumerate the sunny spots in this region of country.
Janesville is the county seat, and the center of at least twelve stage-routes, on which are driven four and six horse coaches. The town, with 400 inhabitants, is fast increasing, and improving in appearance.
II-ABRAM EDWARDS, JANESVILLE, 1855.
In the year 1818, I was a resident of Detroit, and the owner of a large mercantile estab- lishment located in that place, and from this had branches at Fort Gratiot, the outlet of Lake Huron, and at Mackinaw, Green Bay and Chicago. In May of that year, business required my presence at each of the branches, and I accompanied the army Paymaster, Maj. Phillips, who was ordered to pay the troops stationed at those places-then military posts. We left Detroit in the month of May in a small schooner for Mackinaw, and from thence on the same mode of conveyance to Green Bay. After our business was finished at the bay, and we were looking for a conveyance to Chicago, Inspector General Wool arrived, and requested we would not leave until he had inspected the troops and he would accompany us to that place. In the interim, we purchased a bark canoe and had it fitted up for our voyage. Maj. Z. Taylor, after- ward President, commanding the post, furnished us with seven expert canoe-men to manage our frail bark.
We left Green Bay garrison after dinner, and went to the head of Sturgeon Bay, forty miles, and encamped for the night. The next morning, we carried our canoe two and a half miles over the portage to the shore of Lake Michigan, and, after getting the baggage over, we were willing to encamp for the night. The next morning found us in our canoe afloat on the waters of the lake, paddling our way to Chicago, where we arrived the third day from our lake-shore encampment. On our passage, although we frequently landed, we did not meet with a white man; we were, however, informed that one was trading with the Indians at Milwaukee. At Twin Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Milwaukee the shore of the lake was lined with Indians; near Manitowoc, many were out in canoes spearing whitefish. I am reminded of these reminis- cences, having recently noticed in the public prints a census of the inhabitants of the cities and towns that have grown up on this very lake shore, which for beauty and population are equal to many of the cities and towns of the old States, and which shores, when traversed, were then peopled by savages ; and, indeed, from the shores of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, was one wide waste of unoccupied country. Indeed, from Chicago to Detroit, you had no track but the Indian path from one city to the other, and without any shelter for the weary traveler, where now in Michigan there are nearly a million of inhabitants, with all the facilities of conveyances and comfort you will find in the older States.
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